LoriPA

It depends on what I have eaten, but I have noticed it more. Sometimes I belch like a truck driver after a huge meal after even the smallest amount of food.

Mine is on my right side near the waist line. I can actually feel it now.

I have to admit if I took bites that big now, I would have stuck episodes from hell

I was taken aback by the statement that the lap band complications would be higher; in my own initial lap band consultation with my surgeon, she explained all the risks and benefits, saying that though any medical procedure has its risks, in her experience, the complications and risks with the lap band are less than 2 percent and risks with RNY were considerably higher. I guess this would vary from patient to patient, however.

I was able to read through the blurring and found the practice responsible for this billboard: (818) 243-9999 Brand Surgical Institute Medical Center Inc. 1141 North Brand Boulevard, Suite 200 Glendale, California 91202 Lap Band In Los Angeles, Liposuction, Tummy Tuck, Plastic Surgeons

Today I went to my PCP for my annual checkup, and have to say I walked away a happy person. Not only was I down four more pounds, my blood pressure was 110 over 70, my overall cholesterol level was 156 with my HDL (good) cholesterol at 90 and my LDL (bad) cholesterol at 54. He was also VERY interested in hearing more about the lap band and my progress with it; I actually had to educate HIM on how fills were done! LOL. So I guess it looks like I may be hanging around this earth another 50 years, healthwise anyway.:thumbup:

I'm 5'2.5 and had been losing quite well since being banded. I don't think height matters as much as following the band rules, activity levels, and one's metabolism. But that is just my own opinion.

Not sure how many of you can or will see a difference, but I was going through some old things today and came across a pre-surgical picture of myself (I had surgery March 22, 2007). It is the first picture and I held it up for my webcam: And the next pictures are a couple of cam shots I took today: My "special friend" loves me with my natural dark hair, by the way! LOL. Hard to believe it's coming up on 25 months since my surgery. Attached Thumbnails __________________

The reason I ask is that I have done some work for a fellow lap bander who is a colleague of mine and we had become friends as a result of this common bond, being we could identify with each other's struggles and victories with our lap bands. With that aside, a recent issue concerns me. She was always a stickler for Protein and Water intake before, followed the band rules to the letter, and lost considerable weight, just as I had. Well, in the meantime, she had been communicating with a guy for a little over a year and they'd gotten close, despite him sending mixed signals between outright flirting and some deep conversations. Things were great....until recently. He'd gotten interested in some girl overseas and made it known he "liked" her. The girl is considerably younger and about 50 pounds lighter than my friend/colleague, though no supermodel herself. And she has a child, while my friend/colleague is childless. As for the guy, he decided he only wanted to "remain friends" with my colleague, and it sent her into a tailspin of feelings of abandonment, anger, depression, and self-image crashed altogether. Her diet now consists of water, cigarettes, yogurt, toast, coffee, and diet soda. And she exercises more often than she had before; one hour before all this was sufficient, now it's two hours nearly every day at the gym. I'm really worried she is going to do some serious damage to both her health and band. What do you think? I am at a loss on how to help but I don't want to abandon someone in their obvious time of need.

That's pretty much what mine was; they asked some basic questions about what I knew about lap band surgery and what my expectations were of it. Then I was asked what my goal weight was (145-150 lbs), and if I had any other concerns about the surgery and other things following it. The whole evaluation took about an hour.

I got some good news this morning. I talked to Sherry and she let me know that she found a therapist that specializes in both patients who had WLS and those with eating disorders. She also knows I'm here for support. She's also been started on a low dose of Prozac and I know she's trying to make an effort to get back on track when she asked advice on various uses for protein powder! We're also going to do a Leslie Sansone walking video together tonight

When I first had my surgery, I couldn't find my port to save my own life.:thumbup: These days, however, I can feel it; I remember the first time I could that I thought something was wrong until I realized, "That's my port!"

My BMI pre-op in March 2007 was 62.2 As of April 17, it is down to 47.5 I got a long way to go, but came a long way too!:smile:

Lap band scar two years after surgery:

I can attest for the sleep apnea issue; but keep in mind this is just me. I was on CPAP on a regular basis from December 2006. I had lap band surgery in March 2007 and with my weight loss, I did notice some improvement in my apnea to the point where I may need my machine presently twice a week, if that.

Not sure how many of you can or will see a difference, but I was going through some old things today and came across a pre-surgical picture of myself (I had surgery March 22, 2007). It is the first picture and I held it up for my webcam: And the next pictures are a couple of cam shots I took today: My "special friend" loves me with my natural dark hair, by the way! LOL. Hard to believe it's coming up on 25 months since my surgery.

Just thought I'd jump in and say hello. I used to come here a great deal for awhile, then life interfered. Anyway, I had surgery in March 2007 and those two years went pretty fast! I've gone from barely squeezing into a 30/32 to presently 18/20/22 and some things even an XL. Life is good so far!

Credit:books and tapes are now available to help the woman of size become fit and healthy. But what if you don't live in a large city and your town or city has no facilities for plus-sized women? Guess whatyou are still in luck; there are still ways for us to meet our own fitness needs. If you can afford it, hire a personal trainer. If you can't, you can begin incorporating more movement into your life on your own. Another idea is to contact a physical therapist from your local hospital and ask if they would like to earn a little extra money by helping you set up a suitable exercise routine. Whether we use a size-friendly gym, personal trainer, exercise videos, or just jogging across town with a good friend, the best part of the exercise experience is a great support system; its always good to receive praise for when we have done well, but we also need a good boost to keep us focused and motivated to make our program of choice a success. Hone your instincts and listen to your body and spirit; know your limits, what kinds of things you like to do and when you like to do them. Are you a morning or an evening person? Do you like solitary or group activities? Do you like to swim or are you more of a land person? Once you have an idea what path you would like to take, check with your physician to make sure you are able to exercise safely. We may FEEL all right, but a checkup by the doctor is good insurance before getting started in the event a problem is found. The best way to get yourself in shape once you are cleared by your doctor is to do whatever you can at whatever pace is comfortable for you. If your body says you can't do it, DON'T! If your body says, "Stop!" then it is time to stop. Pushing yourself otherwise can lead to frustration and even injury. If it's not fun, if it doesn't feel good, change it. Start out slow, do less than you think you can do, and add onto it in increments. You will be amazed how far you can go eventually once you focus yourself and set aside a time each day just for you, even if it is for only twenty minutes. But you don't have to feel the burn or sweat to the oldies to get health benefits from movement. Yoga, belly dancing, Pilates, or even a brisk evening walk will help to improve your flexibility and stamina. Also, when we are working towards a goal of better health and physical control of our bodies, we are not as obsessed with such issues as weight loss. While weight loss can be a wonderful perk of a fitness routine, you'll get all the health benefits of exercise even if you never lose an ounce. You will find yourself wanting to move even more, resulting in being more active and having fun in the process. There are also other benefits of a good fitness routine at any size; as a result, there will be more positive changes than our bodies getting into better shape: We sleep better We reduce stress We will increase flexibility, strength and endurance We stabilize our blood sugar We lower our blood pressure We prevent osteoporosis We alleviate depression We improve our sex lives Above all, do it for you. If you are doing it to please your mother, to get a promotion, to prove a point or catch a man, chances are good you will not succeed at your routine for very long. On the other hand, if you do it with a goal of getting fit and being healthier, then you can be successful, not to mention feel and look better in the long run! How can you pass up that idea? With all these options and benefits open to us as well as our skinny sisters, why NOT go on, be your new, positive self? Be the best that you can be-in a size 6, 16, or a 26!

Pro wrestler Chris Benoit, wife, son found dead - Other Sports - MSNBC.com Pro wrestler Chris Benoit, wife, son found dead Police investigating deaths as homicide FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. - WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and son were found dead Monday and police said they were investigating the deaths as a homicide. Lt. Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department said the three were found at their home about 2:30 p.m., but refused to release details. Pope said results of autopsies on Benoit, his wife Nancy, and 7-year-old son Daniel were expected Tuesday. Pro wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and 7-year-old son were found slain Monday at their Fayette County home, authorities said. Benoit, 40, was a former world heavyweight champion, Intercontinental champion and held several tag-team titles over his career. “WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family’s relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy,” the federation said in a statement on its Web site. Benoit was scheduled to perform at the “Vengeance” pay-per-view event Sunday night in Houston, but was replaced at the last minute because of what announcer Jim Ross called “personal reasons.” Benoit, a Canadian native, maintained a home in metro Atlanta from the time he wrestled for the defunct World Championship Wrestling. The WWE canceled its live “Monday Night RAW” card in Corpus Christi, Texas, and USA Network aired a three-hour tribute to Benoit in place of the scheduled wrestling telecast.

I do anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour of exercise five days a week...and also figure in things like house cleaning in between!

I just listened to the press conference on Fox News. They did find steroids--prescribed, but not sure if that was the motive, though there is speculation about "roid rage." No suicide note was found. He also had a history of domestic violence. The wife was bound and strangled on Friday, the son suffocated while in his bed on Saturday, and then he hanged himself Sunday.

Happy Thursday everyone! It's been quite awhile since I checked in, so I had a lot of reading to do! I haven't had much time for message boards recently; there has been a lot going on. Today was weigh in again; I lost three more pounds and ANOTHER inch off my hips! I was quite shocked at that one, since I did cheat a little and had pizza on Monday night. I guess with all this moving and shaking I've been doing lately, those calories burned up quicker than I thought. LOL. Last weekend, I competed in a pageant, the first time in a couple of years. I didn't win (nor did I expect to), but I got first runner up! A couple of days after that, I got an offer from the author of Down That Aisle in Style: A Wedding Guide for Full Figured Women to join a plus-sized themed book tour she is planning for later this summer when it stops in my area, in addition to throwing my PR firm into the hat for possibly doing the promo work for her new book coming out this fall. And my PR firm got an "Arts and Literature" front page feature on a networking site today! What good publicity, eh?

I was a fitness fool today! Not only did I get up to 175 crunches with no effort, but I also did a two-mile hike this afternoon (without being breathless, by the way), a 45 minute workout, AND a one-mile jog this evening! Think I burned enough calories? Heh. I think I have a heel spur in my left foot, though; it's rather sore around there. Something tells me I should call the podiatrist tomorrow, just in case. I guess it's from all this energy and moving around.

I've been adding more Protein shakes and eating things like Peanut Butter, cottage cheese, and ricotta. Since I cut out red meat completely, I pretty much stick to tuna, chicken and turkey breast otherwise.

I had my appointment today, but didn't get a fill. I didn't need it! I was absolutely shocked by how much I had lost since my last visit (in early May)...17 POUNDS! I am scheduled now to go back in September, but I am to call in the meantime if I don't feel any restriction and/or I am at a standstill as far as weight loss goes for a specific period of time. I also have to "step up" on the protein; otherwise, they say I am doing great. I guess the next step is to now go shopping for those 18's...LOL!